Pledge of a Promise Keeper

He awakens early every Sunday
quietly creeping through the house
to eat his morning Corn Flakes
His tie is straight, his hair slicked back
He pulls on his jacket
and grabs his sunday subscription:
the Bible

While his children awaken
to the cold, blank stare
and harsh wake up call
given by his wife
their small bodies aching
where he touched them
slowly they get dressed
to watch the sunday circus:
church

Their eyes are sad and tired
but their lips stretch in a weak, fake smile
as people hug and shake their hands
admiring the perfect christian man's family
and their pretty sunday clothes
the sickness in their little stomachs
growing with each pretty smile,
with each greeting they are forced to make

The little ones slide lower and lower
in the hard, wooden pews
as their father stands
with a flawless appearance
directing the music
they watch his hands
and despise them more
with every beat they count
1...2...3...4, 1...2...3...4
the vomit rises in their throats
remembering the night before
when those dirty, ugly hands
touched them.

The pledge of a Promise Keeper
is one of lies and deceit
its all about
who can act more holy
who can seem more righteous
to those who only see the outside
who only see the pretty little family
of the man at the pulpit
leading the music.